In the offseason, the league outlawed Ward’s trademark maneuver, which often occurs away from the play. (In Rivers’ case, it didn’t.)

But Ward says he’ll continue to do what he’s done in the past.

“I’ll still hit him,” Ward said Wednesday, according to the Associated Press. “I’ll just get
fined. There’s nothing I can do about it. It’s either that or try to
hurt somebody. So are you going to fine me, or do you want me to end
someone’s career? I’d rather take a fine than try to end somebody’s
career, so I’m not going to change.”

Ward basically is saying that his alternative is to hit a guy low, and risk tearing up his knee. But a guy can live a long time with a messed up leg joint. It’s hard to make it beyond the normal U.S. male life expectancy with a brain that has been rattled in its box one time to many while playing football.

For his part, Rivers isn’t saying whether he’ll be looking to deliver a little pigskin retribution to Ward. “We’ll see how it all plays out, and we’ll see how the rule works out,”
Rivers said. “Hopefully it works out and people don’t miss half a year.
I’m just looking forward to playing. I really don’t have much to say
about it.”

But Ward relishes his reputation for delivering knockout blows.

“The unfortunate thing is me being labeled that, and then the rule
change came out, so it’s kind of like me being singled out as the dirty
guy that’s in the league, a dirty offensive player,” Ward said. “A wide
receiver being dirty — I take that as a compliment.”

He shouldn’t. Because if he continues to apply the crown of his helmet to the helmets and chins and jaws of unsuspecting opponents, Ward initially will be fined.

97 responses to “Hines Ward has no plans to comply with the rule named for him”

Fines means little to nothing to these guys. You need to suspend them to get the message across. How many times do we hear this? “I am not changing, fine me all you want.” That is because a few thousand dollars is nothing compared to the millions they make.
He should be fined AND suspended if he continues this. Especially since he has stated that he has no intention of stopping, and no intention of playing by the rules. Oh, and if you have no intention of playing by the rules, especially rules designed to keep players safe, then yes, you are a dirty player.

I hate the steelers, but LOVE hines ward. I played WR through high school and a little into JC, and watching him hit defensive players brings to mind EVERY coach i ever had telling me on blocking (specifically crack back blocks) to “try and knock the shit out of the guy, cuz thats what he trying to do to you every other play…” hines ward plays hard every play and that should be looked up to by children aspiring to play in the NFL

Suck it! He hit Rivers with his shoulder. Momentum caused the rest of the damage and it was a block on a player attempting to make a tackle. Cry if you want, but if that hit still bothers you, maybe watch another sport.

Please Lord/Santa/anyone that can make this wish come true. I will be good the rest of the year if you let some Bengal, any Bengal (preferably Rivers) knock Wards f-ing head off and into the front row on Sunday! And I hope it is done with the crown of a Bengal helmet – just like he uses as a weapon on other defenders.

Maybe he doesn’t have a problem with being a dirty player cause that is the standard where he is. I didn’t think the shot was particularly illegal when I saw it. Cheap? yes. Then I watched plenty of replays and saw what everyone else did, a dirty cheap shot artist delivering an illegal hit.

“He shouldn’t. Because if he continues to apply the crown of his helmet to the helmets and chins and jaws of unsuspecting opponents, Ward initially will be fined.
Eventually, he’ll be suspended.”
Or he get what he’s given out. Somehow I doubt Ward will think so highly of dirty play if it happens to him.

“Hines Ward has no plans to comply with the rule named for him”
^^^^^^
Then, by definition, that would make him a cheater, am I right Pittsburgh?
He clearly knows what the rule is, there is no misinterpretation.
By the way Florio, allow me to join the masses and say…FIX THE LOGIN.

“Ward basically is saying that his alternative is to hit a guy low, and risk tearing up his knee. But a guy can live a long time with a messed up leg joint. It’s hard to make it beyond the normal U.S. male life expectancy with a brain that has been rattled in its box one time to many while playing football.”
What should he do Florio stand there a watch the play if he doesn’t have the ball in his hands. I’m not a Steelers fan, but to imply that Ward is a dirty player is ridiculous. The guy has been a true pro for his entire career and has played the game with a love and intensity that has become less and less prevelent in todays game where money is becoming more important than wins.

This is where the Steelers fans say the Ward isnt a cheap shot artist, he is just playing the game hard, the way it is supposed to be play.
And all of the people that hate the Steelers, are going to say it is nothing more than dirty play.
I think the truth lies in the middle. Hines Ward does play hard, and I love the enthusiasm that he brings to the field. I love seeing a receiver drop the hammer on someone with a great block.
But the problem with Hines Ward, last years block on Rivers is a prime example, is that he sometimes goes over board. Last year, the block was impressive, but it was also dirty.
Ward could have made a devastating block on Rivers, without putting his helmet into Rivers’ jaw. That is where Ward crosses the line from playing hard, to playing dirty. You can make a great block, by putting your shoulder into the other players chest. But Ward doesnt put his shoulder into the chest, he puts the crown of his helmet into the other players jaw…… That is why Steelers fans love him, and why those that arent fans hate him…

This is beyod ridiculous. One of the first things I ever learned playing receiver is to take advantage of a linebacker who doesnt have his head on a swivel and nail him when you get a chance. If a linebacker can’t protect himself against a receiver and refrain from getting a broken jaw, then he should not be playing linebacker in the nfl. But I guess it’s better for linebackers not having to worry about being blindsided so they can concentrate all their energy on murdering the runningback?
The league seems to dislike it when the players act like celebrities, so maybe they should stop treating them like celebrities.

This is a fear tactic. It may be the only recent case where an offensive receiver tries to intimidate defensive linebackers and safetys. And thats what he does the big hits. He can tone it down and make the same solid block, but to knock them on their ass is all intimidation. Love it or hate it, you have to understand it. Why can Ray Lewis, Leron Landry, or Ronnie Lott injure someone and Hines Ward can’t. Football is a contact sport, or is it really anymore…

Hines Ward was also voted the smartest non-QB player in the NFL. He’s not going to get himself suspended – he’ll continue to knock out opposing team’s players. Go to youtube and lookup HInes Ward and watch the one titled “Hines Ward murders Bart Scott”
/wearing my Hines Ward jersey

Cue all the Hines Ward haters. LOL. He’s the last true football player in the NFL and plays the game the way it’s meant to be played…….Roger Goodell or not. His style of play was legal for almost 90 years until Roger Goodell came along. Coming to a field near you to shatter the phony tough guy images of your favorite team’s defenders.
“That mean ol’ Hines Ward hits people when they’re not looking! He should wait to stop what he’s doing until they see him!” LOL. Morons.

Hines Ward is one of the dirtiest players in the NFL and he should have already been suspended multiple times. It makes me sick when TV commentators commend him for his physicality… HE LEADS WITH HIS HELMET! It is the most dangerous play on the field! He has committed countless crack back blocks that have caused injury/ concussion because he hits unsuspecting defenders helmet-to-helmet. There is a clip on youtube of him lowering the crown of his helmet into Ed Reed’s throat at full speed… DISGUSTING behavior.

This POS is a typical squeeler goon. Feeling as if the rules don’t apply to him.That it’s ok to possibly wreck another player’s career. Maybe we need to come up with a new rule for him…….we’ll call it the gooney rule….meaning squeeler players can cheat and get away with it. After all, it’s been going on for decades. Everyone still remembers the “STEROID CURTAIN” defense, don’t they?!

If I were Hines and someone was trying to knock my head off every play, you better believe that I’d be looking for payback when I could get it. Funny how nobody mentions the number of times that Hines has been hit high with the crown of someone’s helmet. I agree with the rule change and the fact that a lot (NOT ALL) of Hines’s hits have been borderline or worse. Bottom line is that you had better pay close attention to where 86 is on every play or you might get de-cleated.

LOL… You guys crack me up. Defensive players have no problem sending receivers to the emergency room if it results in an incomplete pass or a fumble. A receiver barely 6′ 200 lbs hits one of these guys too hard and everyone cries foul? WTF is wrong with you people? Go watch figure skating.

“…hayward giablommi says: September 24, 2009 9:37 AM
Then, by definition, that would make him a cheater, am I right Pittsburgh? …”
He’s still a rookie compared to the entire Patsies organization.
At least what he does (nothing more than playing hard) is in full view, not cowering under cover.

The narrow focus of some football fans and writers (Mr. Florio) amazes me.
How can you single out a player like Hines Ward for blocks or Jared Allen for his low hits? Any time Ward (or any other receiver) catches the ball over the middle, defenders are trying to crush him when he’s not looking. Then Ward throws a hard block and it’s viewed as some sort of appaling act.
Allen tackles a quarterback at or below the knees, and everyone screams. Yet offensive lineman, tight ends, and running backs try to cut block Allen on every single play.
Before passing judgement, take a step back and look at the game as a whole.

@PckrFnInMinn
“…..watching him hit defensive players brings to mind EVERY coach i ever had telling me on blocking (specifically crack back blocks)..and that should be looked up to by children aspiring to play in the NFL”
Maybe you had sleezy coaches. I played from the time I was 7 till 32 and not ONCE did I have a coach tell me or my teammates to be a coward and hit an opposing team’s player from the blind side. I guess this POS ward had the same POS coaches as you! Hopefully children playing now don’t have the same type of POS coach you had !!!!

Ward can talk all he wants, but if he actually does it in the game, then Roy Williams should horse-collar tackle Ward every chance he gets.
Interesting note: this game features three players with rules named after them. Hines Ward, Roy Williams, and Carson Palmer (aka the Kimo rule, aka the Tom Brady rule).

Good!
Like many others have posted… I’m no Steelers fan, but Hines Ward is the man. He plays football the way it should be played.
He played his high school ball not too far from where I grew up and I love his story… hard work, overcoming tough circumstances. He’s a great success story.

@JoeSchmoe –
It’s ‘Hines’ not ‘Heinz’
One is a professoinal football player that your team would love to have. The other is what you likely put on your steak at the Ponderosa.
I do like the irony of calling someone a ‘moronic dickweed’ and then spelling their name incorrectly in the next sentence, though. I say well done, sir.

MOMMY! The wide receiver hits too hard! Tell him to stop! And he wins MVPs in the Super Bowl…its unfair! WHHHAAAA!
I guess you can either be a Terrell Owens and a Randy Moss with lots of stats and take plays off or you can be a Hines Ward and have two shiny Lombardi trophies.

Please please please please please pleeeeeaaaasssee send him over the middle this Sunday, pleeeeaaasse!!!! Really, this game is going to be brutal, we already had Benson knocking Polamolu out last year in that same game (almost made my day, but we lost), and Holmes getting his clock cleaned in the next game. Happy Face’s time is coming, wait for it, wait for it…..

From some of the comments above, you would think that every one of these posters watches EVERY Steeler game, and more specifically, they are watching Hines on every play. They are all experts on exactly what Hines does on every play, how he blocks, etc. That is pretty funny.
Well, as a Steeler fan that does watch every single Steeler game, I think Hines is a very tough football player, and I don’t think he crosses the line intentionally to be dirty.
Go ask somebody like a Ray Lewis how he plays the game. II think when he hits you he wants to make a statement, whether you see him coming or not. How many QBs are hit by defensive players blindsided?
There are so many hits that are in the grey area that it’s not funny. I see defensive backs hitting with their helmet all the time. Like Jack Lambert once said, “put dresses on ’em” if people don’t think they won’t get hit hard. This is football not checkers.
Also, I don’t see Hines “dropping key balls” like some moron said above. You people are hilarious.
I don’t condone dirty hits and cheap shots, and really don’t think Hines does that. For my money, Hines is the best all-around receiver in the league. He catches the ball, makes the tough catches, and blocks like a lineman. He is not afraid to hit or be hit. If he was on your team, you would love him. Case closed.

If Hines led with his helmet half the time that you guys claim he does he would have broken his neck by now. Defenders can send offensive players flying with big time hits but let a WR level a defender and OH DEAR….THAT’S DIRTY!

When the NFL changed the rules to protect QB’s, Jack Lambert wanted to put them dresses. The NFL will be handing out dresses to LB’s now too… especially the sissy ones that play for the Pussy Cats in Cincinnati.
It was a clean hit. Get over it.
Ward never complains when linebackers nail him in the back when he is in the air across the middle to catch a pass. He just gets up and smiles at them. Most linebackers would be happy just to get up, let alone smile.
Hines is a tough player who should be praised for his style of play. If the situation were reversed all you whiny Bungles fans would be saying the same thing. Grow up and let them pay the game the way it was intended to be played.

When the NFL changed the rules to protect QB’s, Jack Lambert wanted to put them dresses. The NFL will be handing out dresses to LB’s now too… especially the sissy ones that play for the Pussy Cats in Cincinnati.
It was a clean hit. Get over it.
Ward never complains when linebackers nail him in the back when he is in the air across the middle to catch a pass. He just gets up and smiles at them. Most linebackers would be happy just to get up, let alone smile.
Hines is a tough player who should be praised for his style of play. If the situation were reversed all you whiny Bungles fans would be saying the same thing. Grow up and let them pay the game the way it was intended to be played.

How many times have we seen defenders blast a unobservant QB after an INT? This last week I don’t know how many times I saw a final defender slam into a running back or wide receiver that was being held up by one or more other defenders, delivering a final shot. Pretty darn cowardly, but that acceptable right? And defenders would never look at an injury report to see where a player, like a QB might be vulnerable, right?
Like it or not, most of Wards hits are legal. I think what ticks people off- he plays like someone on defense, not like a receiver.

This is not flag football. You tackle the guy who has the ball. You block so the guy on your team with the ball gets further down field. If someone is intentionally trying to hurt someone (ie helmet to the knees), you penalize him and move on.
These guys are being paid millions to play a game. Its time to suck it up and earn your money.
Three cheers to Hines Ward!

“When you see guys like Dick Butkus, the Ronnie Lotts, the Jack Tatums, these guys really went after people. Now, they couldn’t survive in this type of game. They wouldn’t have enough money. They’d be paying fines all the time and they’d be suspended for a year after they do it two games in a row. It’s kind of ridiculous.”
-Troy Polamalu

I don’t know what Hines is crying about. He can still hit people when they’re not looking, which is his only way of attempting to be tough.
The rules were totally against the defense before (which is why defenses love getting interceptions so they could take advantage of the rules). I wish they would make it the same for the defense, not worse for the offense.
Either way, Hines is still dirty.

Vox, you are such a cowgirl.
the simple truth is that flo adams is a old/dirty player, deal with it.
as for Hines, let the nfl keep fining him if needed. Hines is better receiver then all of your teams receivers..

What’s next? you haters are going to be crying about Troy Polamalu jumping around the field tackling, interceptioing, etc. it’s football. I have watched football since the late 60’s and it has become a game for cry babies. can’t tackle this way, can’t tackle that way. It’s almost as bad as the crybabies (Jeff Gordon, Jimmy Johnson, Bush brothers) in NASCAR. They know excatally what they are getting into when they start that sport. Yes there are some dirty plays, players, COACHES (Belicheck) and it has happened since day 1. Find a prissy sport if football is too much for you or sit down, shut up and let us who long for the old days of football, Dick Butkis style, have what little bit of true football that is left. I agree with er pete..this will be flag football in 10 years. Gotta find another contact sport to get into I guess.

“I guess you can either be a Terrell Owens and a Randy Moss with lots of stats and take plays off or you can be a Hines Ward and have two shiny Lombardi trophies.”
I’ll take the two Lombardi trophies
It is a wonder that he has been doing this for years and no one has been able to keep hines from smling/winning…bart scott hit clean, ed reed hit was on the strong/ball side of the play so quit bitching it wasn’t in the play, and keith rivers just got smash-mouth Steeler invitation to the NFL…all were clean

As a former linebacker I never bitched or complained or cried foul when a wide receiver threw a blind side block on me. If anything I thought “damn…i need to keep my head on a swivel!” For the record…Hines has had his clock cleaned on more than one occasion. For reference, copy and paste the following link.http://assets.nydailynews.com/img/2008/12/24/alg_hit.jpg

“…”…VoxVeritas says: September 24, 2009 10:30 AM
OK so let me get this straight, …”
Hey, Vox, you’re out of your hole early today.
In fact, I didn’t expect to see your for a while after you called out the NY cops over 9/11 yesterday.

Hines hits people when they’re looking…bunch of babies…if you don’t like hitting then start watching badminton.
Oh wait…the birdy gets hit in that game so maybe that’s too violent an alternative.
Pansies…this is football, not effing tiddly winks.

The funny thing is that EVER SINGLE ONE OF YOU would be singing a different tune if Hines Ward played for your team. The hit was not illegal last year, no penalty, no fine, NOTHING so explain to me agian how it was dirty. Oh yea youre right, the fact that you hate the Steelers is reason enough for you to decide what is clean and what is dirty, what is legal and what is a penalty, and what is fined and what is not.
By the way, no one in the AFC North can take out Hines. Ravens D put a bounty on him last year then dissappeared during the game. Lets be serious, the Bengals?? If you think Rey Maleluga, a rookie, is going to get payback on Hines you are crazy. Rey better watch out thou or it will be 2 high round draft pick LBs in a row getting knocked out for the season by the toughest WR to ever play the game!!
See Hines run, see Hines block, see Keith Rivers on IR…

Tied for #4 in the NFL in catches after 2 weeks. Pretty good for an old man, LOL
Maybe all those hard hits earned him some respect, and he gets a little more cushion than faster, more talented receivers?

“…ravenfan820 says: September 24, 2009 11:48 AM
He hits people away from the play and when they are not looking. Nothing brave or tough about that….”
Ray Lewis murders people when they are not looking. Nothing brave or tough about that

Ward is such an idiot. Dude, in between the head and the knees is a REALLY big area called the chest. Just hit a guy there and everybody will be happy. You didn’t invent blocking by WRs. WRs have been executing crackback blocks on LBs for years before you even came into the league, but somehow those other WRs all managed to not hit people in the head with their helmets and break their jaws.

OrtonsNeckBeard, thank you for being a stick up the ass tool and correcting grammar. When you know the point being conveyed, and you know the poster doesn’t give two shits about how that douche bag spells his name, you’re not really accomplishing much by calling out an S vs. a Z. But point taken. Thanks.
The hit WAS legal yes (WAS), but it is not anymore, because it took that hit to make the conservative rules committee realize that “gee whiz… the Jack Lamberts and Jack Tatums and Dick Butkus of yesteryear were playing the game at a much slower speed, and had less strength and explosive inertia capabilities that comes with modern day training methods. Maybe we should tighten up the definition of what sound football is all about nowadays to um… help prevent careers from ending”. No doubt owners who shell out millions to players at every single position also backed this idea.
The case for Troy Polamolu’s statement is flawed. Those old school guys hitting is comparable to Babe Ruth hitting all those home runs against what is the equivalent to softball lobs in todays MLB.
Nobody was running a 4.3 40’s, squatting 600 lbs or had any idea what quick twitch training was back in the day. The game has changed, and rules to protect people who would otherwise be stocking shelves at Sam’s Club need to adjust with the times to protect their livelihoods. I’m not saying turn the game into flag football, but a shot at a guy who can’t see it is as dangerous as a cut block… c’mon.

ItalianArmyGuy
(Didn’t know the Italians even had an Army)
But maybe he’s tied for 4th because the Steelers have abandoned the run and throw the ball all the time, and Ben is the master of breaking plays and then wiggling enough that any receiver could get open.
I could go for about 5 and 50 in that offense.

There was nothing wrong with that block. If Rivers hadn’t been a rookie, he would have been fine. You’ve got to keep your eyes open with you’re playing an offense that knows how to hit back. There isn’t a rule that says only defensive players can deliver hard hits.

The fines need to be comensurate with the individual players compensation. Mr. Ward is making millions of dollars, fine him as such. First time 5%-10% of contract total. Second time 20%-30% contract total. with suspension.Third time is 50% contract total and 3-5 year suspension. Stop treating these people like they are something special. They are not special and not above the rules, participation etc. Stop them from behaving as spoiled dickweed brats.

These jackasses who keep saying Ward hit with his shoulder need to get a DVR or take there homer glasses off. That was one dirty play – he went headhunting and obviously stuck his helmet on Rivers’ helmet. The film doesn’t lie.
The best revenge would be a W for the Bengals and to watch Hines cry about it afterwards. The guy has the personality of a 12 year old.

When Hines Ward gets hit hard, and he gets hit hard a lot, he jumps back up, smiles through the pain, and goes back to the huddle. Never let ’em see you sweat, right?
If the Bengals are really this obsessed about a slot receiver being mean to their linebackers, then the Steelers have already won the mental part of the game.
That’s probably explains the Steelers 14-4 record against them this decade.
Good Luck

For those dumb ass hill billys who are acting like were going towards flag football…this goes beyond the Keith Rivers play where he hits people with his helmet that are no where near the play….Use your shoulder use your hands dont use your Fing helmet…
People wanna act like it’s okay? I then hope Roy Williams does Horse Collar tackle on him and ends his season then all your hear from Wines is him crying.

This guy is a cheap shot artist, plain and simple. I don’t understand why everyone thinks he is such a bada$$ because he can knock people down who don’t even see him coming.
Why don’t you take on a linebacker one on one who sees you coming, Mr. Ward.
What baffles me is he plays up this reputation of being such a tough guy. If there was any justice in the world, to stop his nonsense, at least once a game, some guy would fly in from nowhere and knock his head off, legal or not. After so many of these hits, I bet he would knock this $h!t off.
This is not an old school league anymore. I remember 2 years ago, when the Patriots loved to throw the ball and run up the score when they were already winnning by like 30 points. The other teams could have stopped that too. Since the game is over, it should have been “Tee off on Brady” time whether the play was over or not. After having enough people hit him late, maybe the Pats would have had second thoughts about running up the score.

Is this a joke? If Ward goes low on Rivers then he’s doing exactly what Brett Favre did earlier this year and was labeled “dirty” for. Instead he goes high and is still labeled a cheap shot artist. I guess they should start wearing flags so all the pansies can stop whining about hitting in football.

All of you freakin retard ward fans who say that was a legal hit need to get your head out your ass and breath a little fresh air. Anybody w/2 eyes can watch any of the replays and see that he hit him in the head with the crown of his helmet. Just because the officials didn’t call it doesn’t make it a clean hit you f-in morons. Now I got no problem with a cut back block by a receiver. Lord knows they get their bells rung as well, but rivers wasn’t even near the play, the runner was already past him. Hines Ward is a no good, piece of shit, half breed, chinese/african who I hope and pray gets his punk ass handed to him in the same fashion that he’s used to handing it out. There were many different ways to deliver a block like that and a TRUE PRO would have done clean! He’s a real piece of shit, but what do expect from Pittsburg.

MitchBergerSaysKissTheRingBitch says: “Is this a joke? If Ward goes low on Rivers then he’s doing exactly what Brett Favre did earlier this year and was labeled “dirty” for. Instead he goes high and is still labeled a cheap shot artist. I guess they should start wearing flags so all the pansies can stop whining about hitting in football. ”
Just hit the guy in the chest, man. Seriously, how hard is that? Why does Ward have such a tough time getting that right: shoulder to chest, not helmet to face. It really does seem simple and reasonable if you ask me.

“…# CincyAllDaWay says: September 24, 2009 2:44 PM
He’s a real piece of shit, but what do expect from Pittsburg….”
Says the Cincy fan, home of the dead Steve McNair Halloween displays.
What did they replace that with? A display of 9/11 victims?
Stay classy Cincy…

“…ravenfan820 says: September 24, 2009 11:48 AM
He hits people away from the play and when they are not looking. Nothing brave or tough about that….”
KaiserSoze says:
September 24, 2009 12:08 PM
Ray Lewis murders people when they are not looking. Nothing brave or tough about that
What the hell does Ray Lewis have to do with Hines Ward being a cheap shot artist and dirty player?? If you think Ray is a murderer, have at it…… but the two have nothing to do with one another……
But then again I expect nothing less from a squealer fan…… if you lose, it is the refs fault, if you have a bad season you have 700 superbowls rings, if you have a dirty player Ray Lewis is a murderer…… I guess that all tied together somehow in your Iron City soaked head…..

HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!! Hines is wonderful!!! I love all the haters on here whining about leading with this and that, and dirty this and that. Have any of you losers ever played a down of football before? Hines block specifically on rivers was a great block. His reciever picked up a couple extra yards because of it……THAT IS THE POINT OF A BLOCK.
Fact is every defense in the NFL has a Free safety out there waiting to take a players head off ( and I am sure they all would like to kill hines)…and more often than not…when it happens….the reciever is NOT LOOKING…. THAT IS THE POINT!!! Try to hit somebody and cause seperation from them and the ball when they are looking right at you.
Point is, the smart players, good players, look for the dumb ones that do not know how to keep their heads on a swivel, so they can make a play. Whether that play is to take a player out of that particular play or cause an incompletion.
Thats football retards….keep on trucking Hines!

Florios’Lawyer says:
September 24, 2009 3:28 PM
“Says the Cincy fan, home of the dead Steve McNair Halloween displays.
What did they replace that with? A display of 9/11 victims?
Stay classy Cincy…”
Actually, for anyone who knows their ass from their elbow, Kings Island is owned by Cedar Fair, which is headquartered in Sandusky, Ohio. We’re talking more about the Cleveland area, thank you very much. Now it should make perfect sense to you.
And just for the record (coming from a Bengals fan), I will be the first one to admit that Hines Ward plays tough, physical football, and he is one of the best blocking WRs (and player, even) of all time. Any team, including mine, would kill to have a Hines Ward on our team. HOWEVER, that does not relieve Ward of his responsibility to play football of honor. Say what you want, noone is ever taught to block with the crown of their helmet. Ward knows it, too, so his respect for other guys on the field has to be questioned. Regardless of the play at hand and where he was in relations to the active play on the field, for those who contest the fact that Ward led with his helmet when he broke Rivers’ jaw (see ignorant) might want to refer to when Ward knocked Ed Reed out with his helmet. Stop whining about isolated incidents – Ward is notorious for making cheap shots. Granted, he blocks head-on for the vast majority of his plays, but the stunts he pulls show a lack of respect to all of his fellow players and fans who come to the game to see real men, manning up and playing real football. I can’t wait for someone to send Ward to the sideline – he deserves it for the cheap shots he has pulled over the years.